UPJ prof named History Channel’s teacher of the year

A local educator’s work to preserve area history is receiving national attention.

Paul Newman, a University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown professor and social historian, has been named the History Channel’s “Save Our History Teacher of the Year” for his work in history preservation.

“I am both humbled and honored to get it,” Newman said.

As a historian, Newman said he is interested in those who were not making headlines in history.

“I look for the average person going through extraordinary circumstances,” he said.

That may be what led the local history buff to Northern Cambria, where he has been working with 15 high school students on a Vietnam War documentary.

With the help of Northern Cambria social studies teacher Karen Bowman, Newman and the students have been working on a one-hour film about local Vietnam veterans.

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The documentary, funded by a $10,000 History Channel grant, includes interviews with more than 20 local veterans. Filming has taken place in Johnstown, Ebensburg, Northern Cambria, Windber and Washington, D.C.

“The idea is to start in this region,” Newman said of the documentary. “We want to let vets talk about it in their own words.”

Newman said that World War II veterans often dominate war remembrances.

“It’s great to honor those guys,” he said. “ The guys that came home from Vietnam heard about how their fathers won the second world war; they get no credit.”

As an example, Newman cited the lack of attention given to October 2007, when he said marked the 50th anniversary of the first U.S. combat death in Vietnam, Capt. Harry Griffith Cramer of Johnstown.

The group hopes the documentary will spark a national conversation about the Vietnam experience, he said. The documentary is scheduled to premiere June 15 in Northern Cambria.

A short trailer can be viewed on WJAC-TV’s Web site under the “by U” link.

Sarah Goodnow, an account manager with the Civic Entertainment Group from Manhattan, said Newman’s dedication to history preservation and his work with local youth set him apart from the other applicants.

Civic Entertainment administers the “Save Our History” initiative for the History Channel.

“He has done a great job leading students,” she said. “His passion showed through.”

In past years, Goodnow said, teacher of the year recognition was a national contest. This year panelists reviewed applications from about 30 applicants who received History Channel grant money to fund projects.

“A panel of judges from the History Channel reviewed the applications,” she said. “They chose Paul.”

Newman, who earned his bachelor’s degree from York College and master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Kentucky, said the award is a testament to the abilities of the teachers and students he has worked with over the years.